All those who have seen the Hindi version Kabir Singh starring Shahid Kapur of this Telugu super hit and are raving about it may not have seen the original film so far, that is premiering on Amazon Prime right now. Either of the films will do, for your Sunday night film viewing.
But if you were to ask my opinion; I would say that after watching the original, I have no desire to watch another version, lest its magic disappears.
Vijay Deverakonda as Arjun Reddy in this 2017 film written and directed by Sandeep Vanga, loosely based on his personal experiences, has the lead actor excelling in this role. He plays a highly skilled surgeon with an anger problem whose heart has been broken by his first love and is now on a fuck all and fuck life mission to soothe his frayed nerves and bleeding heart. Arjun, the protagonist is on a drugs, alcohol and smokes rave party everyday of his life, even when he is operating on a patient.
You can’t help being fascinated with this man, who is good looking, a topper in academics belongs to a prosperous family and seems to have it all; barring just one thing, a cool head. Like Shakespeare’s characters, his ‘hamartia’ or that one single fatal flaw; his terrible anger and impulsiveness lead to his ruin. More events later in the film do show his resurgence too. Life wins.
There’s been a lot of talk about the toxic misogyny and toxic masculinity in both films, but with a character like this, that is to be expected. It is a pretty normal problem that most jilted lovers face and lot of people do go crazy for love; obsession is a real thing!
The only issue is of course the anger management problem that too, a lot of people face, but with everybody becoming or trying to become polite, meek, versions of themselves in other peoples company, it seems like an anomaly when you see it in Arjun Reddy. But that’s for those who judge everybody on their own standards. I would like to celebrate individuality more; so if you are this way, just be it. Real is better than perfect.
Control be damned here. Here is a hero who is unapologetically himself and its refreshing and humorous to hear him speak his mind, say bollocks when he feels like it and beat up people when he gets angry; all with cause. There’s a method in Arjun Reddy’s madness and you know that.
Raw machismo oozing out and cute couple kisses strewn all over the place with the director showing all that goes on in a normal couple’s life; including their physical involvement, makes this film a soppy watch too; but more of a dark romantic movie. Shalini Pandey as Preethi Shetty, his lady love, acts as a foil with her steady, sweet, simple, quiet nature to his brash, temperamental, heady alpha male.
Most moments and lines in this film are hilarious, even with the subtitles and can raise so many laughs that one cannot stop watching it even for a moment. I had difficulty taking a snack break, even. The ‘junoon’ in his love is the kind that most women would die for. Of course reality check would have happened if the lovers married and had a disastrous life, because of his temper. But that’s another story.
Because the movie is focused on love; it works brilliantly. The campus scenes can easily transport one to their own days of college, friends, bunking classes and the innocence of first love. I don’t know if I will watch the Hindi version because sometimes nursing a hangover is better than a fresh drink.
Absolutely a firecracker. Watch.
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This Indian language-Telugu film, Arjun Reddy was released worldwide on 25 August 2017. Along with critical acclaim for the movie, it attracted its fair share of criticism for promoting substance abuse and erotic scenes. It also went on to receive six nominations at the 65th Filmfare Awards South, including Best Telugu Film, Best Telugu Director for Sandeep Vanga and Best Telugu Actor for Deverakonda.
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